Despite a decade of increasing representation in senior leadership, women, particularly women of colour, continue to face significant barriers in corporate America, according to the Women in the Workplace 2024 report by LeanIn.Org and McKinsey & Company.
At the current rate of progress, it will take almost 50 years to reach parity for all women in corporate America, and “that assumes companies can translate their somewhat precarious momentum into more substantial and sustainable gains,” it found.
The report, which marks the 10th anniversary of the study, analyzed data from more than 1,000 companies and over 480,000 employees over the past decade. The findings suggest that while women’s representation in leadership has grown, progress remains fragile and uneven across corporate pipelines.
“Companies took action, and this led to important progress — more women in leadership, better policies for employees, and increased efforts to foster inclusion,” the report noted. However, the report warned of a worrying trend — company commitment to gender diversity is declining, just as momentum is needed the most
In 2024, women made up 29% of C-suite positions, a significant increase from 17% in 2015. However, women of colour remain vastly underrepresented, holding only 7% of C-suite roles. “We are seeing improvements in senior leadership, but it’s clear that women of colour still have a long way to go,” the report stated.
Broken rung
The so-called “broken rung” remains one of the most persistent barriers, with women still less likely than men to be promoted from entry-level roles to managerial positions. For every 100 men promoted to manager in 2024, only 81 women advanced, a modest increase from 79 women in 2018.
A participant in the study, a Black woman manager, noted that while there is more visible representation of women in higher positions, other forms of diversity are still lagging. “I’m definitely seeing women in higher positions. That’s gotten a lot better. But, when it comes to seeing other types of diversity in those positions, we still have a ways to go,” she said.
Bias, microaggressions
The report also highlights that women, especially those from marginalized groups, continue to face bias and microaggressions in the workplace. One in five women reported being an “Only,” the sole person of their gender in the room, a figure unchanged from previous years. This status often exacerbates experiences of microaggressions, which contribute to burnout and diminished feelings of inclusion.
Women remain highly ambitious, with seven out of ten expressing a desire for promotion, on par with men. However, they report lower levels of support from managers, which is critical for career advancement. According to the report, companies must prioritize developing women leaders and creating inclusive work environments that allow women to thrive.
The report concludes that, while progress has been made, systemic change is needed to ensure sustainable gender diversity in the workplace. It calls on companies to maintain their commitment to diversity initiatives and push for deeper, more meaningful changes to the culture of work.
Women’s representation at various levels in 2024
| Job Level | Women Overall | White Women | Women of Color |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry Level | 48% | 28% | 19% |
| Manager | 39% | 27% | 13% |
| Director | 37% | 28% | 10% |
| VP | 34% | 26% | 8% |
| SVP | 29% | 22% | 6% |
| C-Suite | 29% | 22% | 7% |
Download the full report at https://cdn-static.leanin.org/women-in-the-workplace/2024-pdf